HONG KONG, Nov 19 (Reuters) - Blackstone Group's Antony Leung is leaving his role as Greater China Chairman to lead a Hong Kong-based property conglomerate, the private equity firm said on Tuesday.

Blackstone is the second global buyout firm in a week to announce a senior leadership change in Asia, after TPG Capital brought senior partner Tim Dattels back from the United States to co-lead the region.

The moves come as private equity firms seek to spend their cash piles in Asia, at a time when competition among other competitors such as KKR & Co LP and entrenched Asia buyout groups remains intense.

Leung, Hong Kong's former financial secretary, will become the group chief executive officer for Hong Kong-based property conglomerate, the Nan Fung Group, starting in February. He will also retain an advisory role at Blackstone.

Leung, who was also the ex-Asia chairman for JPMorgan , was hired by Blackstone in 2007 to help it build out its fledgling Asia business.

The departure follows Andrew Quo, a former senior managing director and vice chairman for Greater China at Blackstone, who recently moved to a senior adviser role at the firm.

In December 2010, Blackstone named Michael Chae, a senior managing director in its New York office, as the head of private equity in Asia. Jenkins left Hong Kong to return to the United States with Blackstone the following year.